Bloggers from Around the World

Since Blogger changed a few of its back office options, I’ve noticed the various tools offered to the blog owner. The new layout offers more accessible data and it’s quite interesting to see where the blog traffic originated.
Audience statistics grabbed my attention this morning. In the past, I’ve noticed things like page views, and which blog posts gain the most traffic. If thorough audience stats were available all along, I must’ve missed them, and what a shame. This is pretty interesting stuff and certainly motivated this writer to blog today.
Take a look at the country list below. I’ve included the top ten countries, in order, by number of page views:
United States
India
United Kingdom
Canada
France
Malaysia
Pakistan
Germany
Egypt
Indonesia

Since our blog readers are from around the globe, I started thinking about what books have appealed to readers in the past. Hopefully, some of our friends will drop by and let us know what genres they prefer and what book trends they’re seeing from within their specific region.
Bloggers and guests, please leave a comment and tell us where you call home. Mention how you originally found this blog—not just why you stopped by today, but how you stumbled upon your first visit. Did a certain author steer you here? Did you follow a link from another site? Were you able to locate this blog through a GOOGLE search? Did you see an advertisement or promotion? If you discovered the site after reading one of my books, which one inspired your visit?
After viewing the audience statistics above, I’m curious and would love to know more about your reading tastes and blog interests. Give us information. Tell us about you, what you like to read in terms of authors, books, and genres.
Let us know about your blog preferences. What do you like to see when you visit different blogs? Do you enjoy guest blogger interviews? Do you prefer to read articles about the writing industry or specific books? Would you rather see regular features from various authors and genres? What about columns? Do you follow posts provided by regular contributors?
Regardless of how you found us, I’m sure glad you stopped by. Please let us know where you call home and answer a few questions above, if you have a few minutes.


Destiny

New ReleasesAnd a Big Thank You toSome Very Special Authors

New Releases and Awesome Author Pals

Today, Steam Toys released from Aspen Mountain Press. I'm thrilled to bring you this steampunk novella which includes some gadgets and toys you may never forget!

With a new release today, I should've been working. Suffice it to say, when my son asked me to spend the day with him,I was torn. In the end, he won out. We went to meet his recruiter, spent two hours at the gym, and had lunch with the DH. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed his company.

Today marked a special day for my son as well. Matthew leaves in exactly a month and after boot camp, he’s off to spend a year in Groton, Connecticut. He’s considerably nervous about his first stop in Chicago but he scored extremely high on his ASVAB and thanks to that score, he’ll be on a submarine—which is where he wants to be.

So rather than promote my new release today, I spent the day with my son and we had a great time. I was able to do this because I had a little help from my friends.

I want to thank the following authors, bloggers, and friends who were kind enough to promote the release of STEAM TOYS today on their blogs. A huge thank you goes out to:

Tina Brunelle
Dawn from Dawn’s Reading Nook
Author Tracey Kitts
Author Cindy Jacks
Author K.A. M’Lady
Author Mahalia Levey
Author Sloane Taylor
Author Jude Mason
Author Raine Delight
Author Keta Diablo

***If I missed anyone, please email me because it wasn’t intentional***

And Bloggers! I have a special treat for you. Some of the authors listed above have some recent new releases or old favorites I wanted you to see so I've included those below. Mahalia Levey has promised to stop by soon and she has some news coming soon so make sure you keep up with Mahalia here:


www.mahalialevey.com
http://quackersandtease.blogspot.com/
http://novelsisterhood.blogspot.com/

In the meantime, drop by today and blog with us at Mahalia Levey's blog:

http://mahalia2010.wordpress.com/2011/01/07/author-destiny-blaine-is-pleased-to-announce-she-has-two-new-releases-for-her-readers-to-enjoy-this-january-2011/

As always, I'm thrilled to blog with Dawn at Dawn's Reading Nook. Dawn was kind enough to post about Steam Toys bright and early this morning. Stop by Dawn's and take a look around. See what you've missed and what's coming soon:

Dawn’s Reading Nook:
http://lovesbooksandmore.blogspot.com/?zx=a26d8c7373f3b29

Author Jude Mason was also nice enough to let us take over at her blog as well. I'm excited to learn more about Jett's Gift and below, Jude shares a sneak preview of this very special paranormal novella. Take a look:

Jett’s Gift
By Jude Mason
ISBN: 978-0-85715-462-0
Genre: Gay MM/ Vampire/ Contemporary
Publisher: Total E-Bound
Release date: Feb.7.2011

Purchase Link: http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=1072

A six hundred year old vampire finds love, but will it, can it, last when AIDS pokes its ugly head up?

Jett is a creature of the night and he’s not happy. In fact, he’s heartbroken and in love. The man who’s torn his world apart has been diagnosed with AIDS.

Jett knows he can save Alex, the man who’s stolen his heart, but for some reason he’s been denied.

After weeks, months of frustrated discussions and fighting, Jett’s determined to give it one last try.

Excerpt

Three months later, they were exclusive to each other. Funny thing was, Alex never asked about being turned. He seemed happy enough to accept the time Jett gave him. Alex did extremely well as a model and was much in demand by some of the more prominent fashion houses. His tall slenderness, the washboard abs and that mop of unruly hair were always sought after. Jett had money enough to keep them both if that’s what he’d wanted, but Alex wanted to work. Secretly, Jett thought he revelled in the attention. Now he’d become more successful, the PR had ramped up and they partied and did the nightclub scene at least four or five nights a week.

For eight years, Alex had been his lover. For eight years, they’d worked hard to learn how to deal with Jett’s difference. Jett was a creature of the night—one of the undead, a vampire.

It all changed when Alex got sick. It wasn’t anything drastic or horrible, at first. He just had a cough that wouldn’t quit. Three weeks ago, after much urging and coaxing, he finally went to a doctor.

“Yes, I know you’re fine,” Jett had told him softly one evening, pushing a lock of blond hair out of Alex’s eyes.

“So what’s the rush? I’ve got one more shoot then I’ll be able to take a little time off.” Alex had turned his back and thrust his hands into the sink full of dirty dishes and hot, soapy water. He pressed his butt against Jett’s crotch, and began washing the dinner dishes.

A few minutes shy of midnight, Jett knew Alex was tired, while his own day was just beginning. “You’ve had this fucking cough for three months. That’s too long, and you know it.”

“Yeah, well, someone has to pay the rent.”

“Listen you stubborn son of a bitch,” Jett growled and took hold of Alex’s shoulders, spinning the man around to face him. “We both know I can buy this building ten times over, so there’s no ‘rent’ issue.”

“Yes, I know. You’re filthy rich. You can buy anything and anyone you want. So why are you bothering with a sicko queer model?” Alex countered.

“Because, I love you.”

There it was. He’d said it out loud and knew it was the truth.

“Dayum!” Alex whispered and bent forward, wet hands slipping along Jett’s forearms. “Okay, I’ll do the damn tests the doctor ordered.”

Jett leaned down and pressed his lips against Alex’s cheek. “Thank you,” he murmured.

Nothing showed on the test results, at first. It was a cold. Then it was bronchitis. Pneumonia. Coughing non-stop scarred his lungs. His eyes sunk from lack of sleep. The specialist he’d begun seeing ordered more tests. He got some results.

For such a small word, AIDS took such an enormous toll on people’s lives.

We're blogging with Jude tonight so stop by: http://jude-mason.blogspot.com

Author K.A. M'Lady always amazes me by her talent. Today, she shared her latest book of poems and you're sure to be as impressed as I was:

Look for K.A.'s latest--Ramshackle Castle by following the links below:

http://www.mojocastle.com/RamshackleCastle.html

Ramshackle Castle - Bent Poetry & Other Altered Verse
Humor, Paranormal, Poetry
Ramshackle Castle
K. A. M'Lady
Rated: The Curtain Wall
Length: Sigil
Price: $1.99
ISBN: 1-60180-RCC

Come, walk the night road through your memory of childhood fairy tales, limericks, ghostly apparitions and the lingering breath of classic poetry gone awry. At the Castle, magick and mayhem are a lyrical delight spun with fairy dust. It may at times be dark, dusty and a bit bent but every word is a glamorous enchantment.


Ramshackle Castle Bent Poetry & Other Altered Verse
By
K.A. M’Lady

Excerpts:

Tread Lightly

The road less traveled. Whoever told me to take that damn road was an idiot! Yellow woods indeed. Maybe from the field full of fairies -- no doubt. Crazy bitches with wings!


Dead Birds & The Ghosts of Psycho Ex-Girlfriends

One would think that a mind numbing midnight drunk would still the incessant tapping; hammering its way inside my lonely chamber. I groaned, “Be gone, I’m napping.” Only this and the tome I chucked at said wavering chamber door. Only this and nothing more.



What becomes of falling snow

the dwarves never understood the longing
and after months in a hovel cleaning
what should have been diamonds
but remained only dust; coal black
and caking on the threshold of a place
now known as home, even doc couldn’t
cure the insatiable need for belonging,
and love, ah that sweet poison,
piercing my heart from a childhood
haunted by shadows and lonely dreams,
I still long for a woodland filled with hope
where the wind, subtly cresting in the night,
sometimes whispers -- maybe,
someday,
maybe…



The ugly side of trolls

the night wrangles on amidst long intervals
of heavy pacing and endless moments
of deep introspection, for there is much to consider
beneath the dim light of plank-board
and the dark cool stench of wet, root filled earth --
for even bridge trolls get bored



The sorrows of an ugly step-sister

you, Cinderella with your flaxen waves
and sparkling eyes, know not what it is
to be cast in the shadows -- the second born,
a grey goose of waddling travels mucking about
in a truly murky lake, suffering
an unsavory flair as a true second class citizen

K.A. M’Lady Copyright 2010
All Rights Reserved


K.A. M'Lady
www.kamlady.net
www.myspace.com/kamlady

We're also blogging with Tracey Kitts! Stop by Tracey's and be sure to check out Wicked City as well as this hot new favorite--SEX SYMBOL: http://traceyhkitts.blogspot.com/2011/01/guest-blogger-destiny-blaine.html

Author Tracey Kitts blogged
http://traceyhkitts.blogspot.com/2011/01/guest-blogger-destiny-blaine.html

Sex Symbol is the story of Lucy Harper, an ordinary woman who suddenly finds herself in extraordinary circumstances. Not only is her new boyfriend a werewolf, but her new tattoo might be more than a picture of her favorite flower. According to the local werewolf pack, it’s a “sex symbol.”

Excerpt:

The room was lit by candles. There was one small table and a few shelves in one corner of the room. A shelf of some sort blocked my view, but when I stepped around it I saw where the sound had come from. Eramus was chained to the wall. One arm was locked above his head and his feet were shackled where he stood. I ran to him.

“Eramus, who did this to you?”

I started to look around for a key, but he stopped me, putting his free hand on my shoulder.

“I did.”

I stood there for a moment and just stared at him.

“I don’t understand. Why would you do this to yourself? How do you expect to ever get free?”

“The shackles are controlled by a machine. In twelve hours, it will release me.”

“Why? What happens for the next twelve hours?”

The look on his face was pained and though I made a move toward him he turned his face away, stopping me once again.

“The full moon,” he answered.

It took me a minute to find my voice. “Eramus, a wolf chased me he—”

“I don’t know who’s doing this,” he said. “But if I am to have the strength to fight him, I have to stop suppressing what I have become. I thought that I could pretend to be a man in order to…in order to love you.”

Tears stung my eyes, but I ignored them. “If you’re not a man, then what are you?”

“A beast.”

The pain in his voice was like nothing I had ever heard. And all the sadness in the world was in the eyes that looked back at me as they slowly turned to amber. I understood what he was trying to say and it made no difference to me. I touched his face and as his fangs grew he started to cry.

“Get out of here,” he said.

“I’m staying.”

He was still human to all appearances except for the short fangs and amber eyes. He looked like something wild and a passion stirred in me such as I have never felt before. He wasn’t wearing a shirt and when I placed my hand against his chest it seemed to me that his flesh burned.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” he pleaded.

“Then don’t.”

When he looked at me I felt a flame ignite in my soul like hellfire. Anything I felt before was in comparison to a match. The tortured look in his eyes broke my heart in two. I didn’t think it could ever be repaired, but he was surely welcome to both pieces.

I kissed him and my heart leapt. It danced against my ribs to a beat all its own and Eramus trembled at my touch. Sweat shown on his forehead like a fine mist and as I trailed my hand down his face I could feel his stubble already starting to grow.

A low growl escaped his throat as he said, “You should be running.”

“Didn’t you know? Beauty is incomplete without the Beast.”

I didn’t call myself beautiful because of my own opinion, but because he always said that I was. It may seem ridiculous, but I was not afraid. Not just because he was chained, but because whatever he became, he was still my Eramus underneath. And I was completely and irreversibly in love with him.

Sex Symbol can be found at www.traceyhkitts.com

Author Cindy Jacks told her friends about Steam Toys, too, blogging today at Bad Girl (And Bad Boy) Writer’s Block
http://cindyjacks.blogspot.com/2011/01/guest-author-destiny-blaine.html?zx=7cd871cfb7eb8aed. Cindy has a hot new release that just made its debut at Ellora's Cave:

Buy-it-now: http://www.jasminejade.com/m-683-cindy-jacks.aspx
Website: http://cindyjacks.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/author.cindy.jacks

http://cindyjacks.blogspot.com/2011/01/guest-author-destiny-blaine.html

Cindy Jacks
Fiction for the bad girl in every woman
http://cindyjacks.com


GET IT HERE: http://www.jasminejade.com/pm-8987-683-love-game.aspx

Battling housework, Sandi wonders if the spark in her marriage has disappeared. When her husband interrupts their hot-shower lovin’ to take a call from work, she’s positive the magic is gone.

In an attempt to spice things up, she gets a makeover and sets a date with her hubby for a night of passion and romance. There’s only one problem—Roberto doesn’t show. But all is not lost. Alejandro, a silver-tongued Latin loverboy wrapped in an expensive suit, volunteers to keep her company for the evening. He says all the right—and deliciously wrong—things, leaving Sandi no choice but to see him again…and again and again.

One by one, Alejandro strips away her inhibitions, pushing her to act out her darkest fantasies, desires so private she’s never mentioned them to anyone, not even her husband. Blindfolds, bondage with silk ropes, sex on the roof—nothing is off limits. But everything is not as it seems. The game’s afoot—a love game—rekindling the scorching-hot passion in Sandi and Roberto’s marriage.

Line: Branded
Series: None
Book Length: Short Novel
Book Type: eBook

Publisher: Ellora's Cave Publishing

ISBN: 9781419930829
MSRP/List Price: $10.40
Our Cover Price: $5.20



Sloane Taylor is another author friend who really gets things done. She'll be here on Monday to talk about what's new with her but in the meantime, I'm sharing one of my Sloane Taylor favorites:

Synopsis:

Determined to prove herself and shed her party girl image, Donatienne Dubois pins her hopes on the exclusive cooking school in Nice, France. One by one her expectations are shattered by a foul-mouthed parrot, a bogus Michelin chef, and a headmistress with a heart of tungsten steel. Her lifesaver is a bad boy hunk too hot not to handle.

Sebastien Reinard is incognito, hating every minute. To pose as a student while protecting a rich wild child is his version of hell, until he partners with the slice of Crème Brule good enough to eat.

Class takes on a whole new meaning as Doni and Sebastien heat up the kitchen when they discover honey has better uses than sweetening tea.

Read an excerpt of French Tart here: www.aspenmountainpress.com

Speaking of favorites, Keta Diablo's Where the Rain is Made is gaining a lot of attention. I wanted to post something for Keta as well since she was kind enough to post about Steam Toys over at: http://quackersandtease.blogspot.com.

A decadent-looking savage has captured Francesca DuVall and her brother, Marsh. Now she must spend every waking moment planning an escape from the camp of the brutal savages. What she doesn't count on is the powerful draw of desire interfering with her scheme.

Ethan Gray is a curator at a national museum in Washington, D.C. . . . most of the time. But when he travels through time to help his beloved People, he becomes Meko, leader of the most revered and feared tribe of the plains, the Cheyenne Dog Soldiers.

Their worlds are decades apart, yet Meko can’t resist the dark beauty he kidnapped during a raid. He has many battles to fight, but none more crucial than capturing Cesca’s heart forever.

Genre: Native American romance, Shapeshifter, Time travel, Historical



Thanks again to those of you who blogged with me today. Be sure to visit the blogs above and leave a comment. Also, for those of you who haven't received your prizes yet from our Christmas blog tour and chats, the prizes are on the way. If you contacted me after December 24th, delivery was delayed. Your gifts are on the way!

Love and hugs,
Destiny Blaine

How long is too long?

Don’t worry. It’s safe here.

We’re not having one of ‘those’ blog posts today so you can drag your mind out of the gutter. *Smiles*

Today, we’re discussing in-house manuscript submissions and what kind of wait authors expect to endure during the submissions process. Recently, I waited and waited and waited on a yes or no answer from one of my regular publishers, only to discover they never received my in-house submission. Yikes! Talk about a painful discovery.

My publishers typically receive first consideration on new work and if I send in a submission, generally they are what I consider a perfect fit for the manuscript submitted. Yes, I'll dust off those rose-colored glasses and pass them around.

Publishers and authors, even if they have a terrific rapport, won’t always see things in the same spotlight. There will be those times when we all should and will receive a rejection.

However, as a writer, I see things in 3-D and imagine most contracts should arrive on my desktop signed, sealed, and delivered, kind of like an auto-responder. That's the way it should work, right? Go ahead, and pop my bubble. In publishing, things don’t always happen that way and everything isn’t always black and white. Still, don’t you ever wonder what’s considered acceptable and what isn’t when it comes to in-house submissions? I sure do.

See, while waiting by the keyboard with my ‘invisible’ status on Yahoo, I could’ve and should’ve taken the initiative to see what was holding up the process but you know, I didn’t want to come across pushy or persistent as all hell. That reputation is already stamped on my back and I'm told patience pays off in big ways, right? *Sigh*

So, now, it’s time to think about what’s appropriate and what isn’t. Some of my publishers are very approachable to the point I could IM them and say, “Hey…did you get this?” Realizing publishers vary, I wanted to ask you to weigh in with your opinion today.

Let us hear what you have to say on the subject. I’d especially love to hear from best sellers at various publishing houses. What kind of wait time do you expect on your submissions at your ‘home’ publishers? And what about the publishers you’re scouting out for the first time? Do you have any exceptions or rules you follow, even if they’re self-inflicted?

Come on out and give us your take on submissions. Authors and publishers, weigh in and let us know your thoughts—How long is really too long?

Hugs,
Destiny

Other news to share:

Don't forget to join us over at Just Another Paranormal Monday when you can:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ParanormalMonday/

Also, there are new updates at www.destinyblaine.com and if you missed the blog at TRS Blue, stop by and post: http://trsblue.blogspot.com/2010/02/social-networking-brings-readers-and.html

Move Over Billionaires--the Gazillionaires are Shaking

The ‘Gazillionaires’

Every year, I look forward to the day when school is out. It’s true. I’m ‘that’ mom.

I wait patiently for the day to arrive and generally when it does, I’m the one you see waving that checkered flag. Yep, that’s me in the white hat that reads “Deadlines Amuse Me.” You can’t miss me.

After a few short weeks of bliss, the sports schedules begin and soon, I’m the one sticking up the white flag—yes, the one signifying surrender. Generally, by this time, I’m in my T-Shirt and Shorts. The shorts read: “Mom in Motion—Move Over” on the ass and the T-Shirt typically reads “Writer’s Block—when your imaginary friends not only quit talking to you but they give you that ‘duh’ look too.”

That would be me.

These days, school sports and tryouts begin at the first of July but by this time, moms and dads have already shelled out thousands of dollars from their savings accounts to pay for the best of the best sports camps. (You know what’s coming next) Yes, that would be me standing in line for financial aid for the elite summer training camps. Oh, wait a minute; I guess I got carried away. That line never opened but…they gladly take cash or plastic.

Now that school is back in session, I’ve had a lot of time to reflect. Okay, so not really—because I am behind on the “deadlines” that once amused me—but it sounded good. In any event, I’ve started to wonder where on earth the school officials think the parents in public schools earn their money? Really, I’m curious. I mean the first four weeks of school and I know I’ve dropped a thousand dollars to pay for this or that.

I used to think I earned a pretty good income. I’m not rich by any stretch of the imagination but I’m not standing in front of Home Depot (with my tin cup in hand) using their two by fours as some measure of protective clothing either. However, I’m starting to feel the crunch here. I really admit it. In fact, those cardboard feed-me signs are starting to look sexy.

Just last week, my son hit me up for his class ring. Now, keep in mind, my son made over $350 a week this summer as a baseball umpire. I’m not amused that he doesn’t have anything to show for it so I’m not rushing out to buy a class ring. I would have if he didn’t have the opportunity to call baseball games and earn his own money but right now, I’m not willing. He’s told everyone he can’t afford it and every single time I hear it, I postpone paying for it another week.

In addition, here’s what we spent on two kids last week. We bought two lunch tickets at $20 a pop. The kids came in for some kind of T-shirts they wanted at $15 a pop. The activity fees and student sports pass (or whatever they’re called) at something like $40 a pop and wait a minute…then we had school pictures and the sports pics too. Now, here’s the best part—the middle school is also conducting a fund raiser where every middle school child in this county has knocked on my door. As a side-note—I have two teenagers of my own. I can’t buy from every kid in the county.

There’s only one solution…everyone who lives in East Tennessee is a gazillionaire—except for me, of course. I’m serious here. The way we’ve been sending money out of here the last two weeks, you would think my husband and I had a new crop of Ben Franklin trees producing more than ever before. Really, at this rate, it’s more like Grover Cleveland and maybe that’s where the real trouble lies—everyone wants to see how long these trees will pluck green. My neighbors have fruitful ones—so do I. In fact, I think it’s the mentality around here. We all keep up with the Joneses but someone tell me—who are the friggin Joneses? I want to talk to them and ask them if they are gazillionaires.

Oh, and then there’s the weekends to fund. This generally starts with the “Mom! Everyone is going to the game and then tomorrow night we’re going to the movies.” No problem son, here’s a fifty—keep the change. Darling daughter, you too—have a coke on mom.

I could try telling them I’m all tapped out but what’s the point? They wouldn’t believe me. They really wouldn’t and here’s what I’ve recently discovered that my son does. If we tell him we’re finished handing out bills for the week and a buddy calls to invite him out—you got it—he burns our asses. He simply states, “Oh, I’m sorry. I can’t go. My parents are tapped out.” Or the one I love the most, “We can’t. My parents don’t have the money.” He doesn’t bother telling whoever is on the other end that his mom only works for him in the first place! I’m serious here. I’m not self-employed. I work from home and I have two bosses. I work around the clock for both of them—my son and daughter.

So again, I ask of you—where are the gazillionaires? I’ve been keeping up with the Joneses and just discovered the Joneses have moved up to a different income bracket—they must be right up there with Bill Gates. Since the schools always have their hand out for one fee or another—tell me please, how are you keeping up with the gazillionaires? Do the schools in your neck of the woods load you down with fees from day one forward? I’d love to know your opinion!

Until next time, Keep it Sexy—Read it hot!


Destiny